Foreign minister Urmas Paet: Ukraine must be able to determine its own future

07.04.2014

At the European Union foreign ministers meeting in Athens, foreign minister Urmas Paet said that Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and all other states should be able to determine their own future. "It also affects the cooperation with and closeness of those countries to the European Union," he added.

According to Paet, Ukraine needs the EU's clear and comprehensive support at this difficult time. "The EU can support Ukraine in implementing reforms," he said. "If the goal is a modern and democratic Ukraine, then it must be accompanied by the clear perspective of joining the European Union, if all conditions are met," he added.
Paet stated that it is important that Ukraine's leaders continue to reduce domestic tensions and to restore the unity of society. "We also consider the start of the OSCE's observation mission's work in Ukraine to be very important. The mission must be able to observe and work throughout Ukraine, including Crimea," he noted.

When speaking on the subject of EU Eastern Partnership countries, Paet emphasized that alongside Ukraine, other states expressing a desire to accede to the EU cannot be forgotten. "We should quickly conclude the Association and Free Trade Agreements with Georgia and Moldova," Paet noted. "It is also important to promote direct human contacts between the EU and Eastern Partnership countries and to attain a visa-free travel regime with all Eastern Partnership countries," he added.